Piper PA-18 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, April 30, 1989
On April 30, 1989 at about 10:33 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N3902Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska (Rivard'S Yard airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO GO-AROUND WHEN HE DID NOT ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT, WHICH REQUIRED EXCESSIVE USE OF BRAKES TO STOP ON THE SHORT LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 1989 · about 10:33 pm local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Rivard'S Yard
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N3902Z · no longer on the register · serial 18-7714
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS FLYING FOR THE PURPOSE OF BECOMING CURRENT IN TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED ACFT. THIS WAS HIS 1ST ATTEMPT AT A SHORT FIELD LANDING. HE STATED HE LANDED A LITTLE FAST & LONG, AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TOO HARD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE LANDING STRIP WAS 650 FT LONG.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BGQ Big Lake AK at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 650 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.